Loose-leaf binder



Aug. 19; 1941. A, .N. HANNA LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Filed Aug. 3, 1932 INVENTOR ,8... ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 19, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LQOSE-LEAF BINDER Atto N. Hanna, Newark, N. J.

Application August 3, 1938, Serial No. 222,762

8 Claims.

1 The invention relates to loose leaf binders, and more particularly to a binder of the type in which pivotally connected arcuate post carrying members are superimposed one upon the other and pivotally connected at one end so as to permit the simultaneous separation of all of the posts for the purpose of inserting or removing sheets from those collected upon loops formed by said arcuate posts.

The general type of binder above referred to is old and well known in the art, the invention relating more particularly to a binder in which each of the two separable members, including the arcuate posts carried by each such member and tongues carried by one of the members and engageable with the other member, may be formed from sheet metal. The construction and arrangement of said members is such as to prevent relative movement of the complementary portions of the loops formed by said arcuate posts to an extent to result in the disturbance of the alinement of adjacent or abutting end portions of the arcuate posts, or a distortion of the arcuate posts when these members are superimposed one upon the other. In this manner, accidental escape of a sheet from the posts not only is prevented, but likelihood of the tearing of a sheet when moving it from one arcuate post to another arcuate post is avoided.

In a binder embodying the invention, it is possible to employ a considerable number of posts and a considerable number of tongues upon each member without any increase in the cost of production of the binder as compared with the use of two sets of loops, an arrangement which for many years has been the common practice with binders of the general type to which the invention relates.

The construction is such that one of the post carrying members may be secured to the back board of a book binding and the other member may move toward and from the first named and fixed member when closing or opening the loops formed by the arcuate posts. ,In the binder, the

tongues for preventing relative movement of the two members are formed upon the immovable or base member, thus permitting free pivotal movement of the movable member without likelihood of mutilating the edges of any of the sheets upon the other member, since these sheets are positioned and supported by said tongues above the plane of movement of the pivotal member.

While the tongues are spaced from the mem ber carrying same a distance substantially coincidental with the thickness of the movable memher, so as to frictionally engage same, I provide co-operating locking means upon the two members to positively prevent accidental separation of the loops from the application of the weight of the contained sheets upon the movable memher.

The confining tongues being formed from the metal along one edge of the fixed member, and the movable member being of substantially the same width as the fixed member, it is obvious that one edge of the movable member will, when the two members are closed together to form the loops, engage the curved portion of each tongue at the edge of the member carrying same. This not only limits the pivotal movement of said movable member, when closing the loops, so as to obviate all possibility of distortion of the arcuate posts by the exertion of excessive pressure upon the movable member, but with a locking mechanism such as is hereinafterdescribed, the movable post carrying members may not only be held against accidental separation resulting in partial opening of the loops, but may be forced into engagement with the curved portion of the tongues and held in this position so as to avoid any possible play or lost motion between said members when the posts are closed.

The action of the locking mechanism when closing the two members is such as to develop stresses which will not only flex the tongues and Wedge one edge of the movablemember into the curved portion of the tongues, but will flex any posts, the ends of which abut each other before the two members are completely closed and locked, so as to permit other posts which have not reached the abutting position to be brought together.

Ina binder embodying the invention, the ends of the posts upon different members are so formed as to overlap in a manner to produce substantial continuity in the loops formed by the arcuate posts, even though the ends of said posts may not be in close abutting relation.

In a binder embodying the invention, the members, including the integral arcuate posts and the tongues, are formed of half hard drawing sheet metal stock, and hence the posts and the tongues have little inherent resiliency.

In order to make the confining tongues more effective in holding the movable member in close abutting relation to the fixed member, I provide said movable member with a longitudinally extending rib or'rlbs, at least one of which, by engagement with the under face of the various tongues, will flex said tongues to an extent to force the movable member into the desired close abutting relation with the fixed member. These ribs also act to stiffen the movable member.

The invention consists primarily in a loose leaf binder embodying therein a sheet metal base strip, a plurality of arcuate posts formed intogrally with, and projecting upwardly from, one edge of, and part Way across, said base strip, a plurality of tongues formed integrally with, and projecting from the same edge of said base. strip as said posts, said tongues overlaying, being parallel with and being spaced from said base strip, a movable sheet metal strip having a plurality of arcuate posts complementary to the posts upon said base strip and formed integrally with, and projecting upwardly from one edge of, said movable strip, said movable strip being of a thickness to be superimposed upon said base strip and to closely fit the space between same and saidtongues, whereby said movable strip will be firmly held in close abutting relation to said base strip, turning movement ofsaid movable strip in one direction is limited, lifting of the arcuate posts upon said movable strip in relation to the arcuate posts upon said base strip is prevented, said tongues are interposed between said movable strip and the leaves of a book, and both strips contribute towards the rigidity of the binder, a pivot connecting one end of said strips, and a locking mechanism comprising a tongue carried by one of said strips, and a hooked member pivotally supported upon the other of said strips and engageable with said tongue; and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. l is a longitudinally condensed plan view of a binder embodying the invention, with the loop carrying members in the closed position;

Fig. 2 is a similar View with the loop carrying members in the open position; i a

Fig. 3 is an end View of Fig. 1 showing the looking mechanism; and

Fig. 4 is a detailed perspective view of the adjacent ends of the two loop carrying members showing the locking mechanism in the inoperative position.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the embodiment of the invention shownin the drawing, the binder cover is shown at Hi andthe back board thereof at H. A base strip member I2 is permanently secured, by means of rivets I3 or otherwise, to said back board II; This fixed base member [2 is formed by means of dies from a strip of sheet metal and has, along one edge thereof, a plurality of arcuate posts [4 7 formed integrally with the base strip proper and extending upwardly from, and part way across, the member I2. I

Formed from the material of the base member l2 at the same edge thereof as the arcuate posts between the base member or strip l2 and the' lower face of the tongues, so that when the strip H, by a pivotal movement, is superimposed upon the base strip I2, said movable strip will be held in close abutting relation to the fixed strip by the various tongues l5.

,To compensate for any slight irregularities in the spacing of the different tongues 15 from the base strip l2, or any slight variation in the thickness of the material of the strip II, I provide said strip I l with a raised rib l9 adapted to pass under, frictionally engage and upwardly flex a tongue or tongues 15 with the closing movement of the movable member or strip ll. This rib 19 projects above the top surface of the strip I! only a few thousandths of an inch, but this is sufficient to secure the desired operative eifects above referred to.

I also provide a second rib 20 adjacent the opposite longitudinal edge of the movable strip H, the sole function of this being to stiffen the movable member adjacent the edge thereof from which the arcuate posts, complementary to the posts l4, project.

Along one edge of the movable strip IT and formed integrally with said strip, is a sequence of arcuate posts 2| corresponding in configuration, number and position with the posts 14 upon the base strip l2.

Binders embodying the invention are made in diiferent sizes, both as to the diameter of the loops formed by the arcuate posts and the width of the base and movable strips. The number of loops varies with different diameters of loops and different lengths of binders. With an eleven inch binder having approximately three-quarter inch loops there are ordinarily about eleven loops, spaced about one inch apart. With a six inch binder having loops about three-eighthsof an inch in diameter, there are usually twelve loops spaced about a half inch apart. The number of loops and the spacing thereof, however, is not critical.

With smaller sized binders, an overlaying tongue l5 will be positioned midway between all of the loops excepting the two end loops, in order to provide sufiicient space for the attachment means between the base strip and the back board of the cover. In binders having larger size loops; there is ordinarily a tongue located between all adjacent loops.

The relative position of the tongues and arcuate posts is largely a matter of facilitating econ omy in production of the base strip member. In all sizes of binders, the ends of the various arcuate posts are so formed that the ends of the complementary posts forming each loop will overlap each other in a manner to avoid the formation of any gap at the meeting points of said ends. a i

In the form of the invention shown, this result is secured by means of a recess 22 in the arcuate posts 2| and a projection 23 upon the arcuate posts l4, said projection 23 being adapted to en ter the recess 22. With this construction, a continuous surface is afforded throughout the loop, notwithstanding that the ends of the complementary posts may not be in close abutting relation. In this way, a gap extending completely across the loop at the meeting point of the ends of the two complementary arcuate posts is prevented.

With binders having loops of small size, flat metal stock may be used in the posts I4 and 2|. In binders using larger loops, however, such as those shown in the accompanying drawing, it is preferable to provide a reinforcing rib 24 throughout each arcuate post, so as to impart a necessary stiffness to the post to prevent possible distortion of the loop by reason of the heavier weight of the leaves mounted thereon.

To prevent accidental movement of the movable strip I! in a manner to permit the opening of any loop, I provide a locking mechanism which, when the strip I! has been superimposed upon the strip I2, may be actuated to not only retain these strips in the closed position so long as this mechanism is set, but to complete the closing movement of the movable strip so as to engage the edge thereof adjacent the rib IS with the curved portion I6 of the various tongues I5, and engage the ends of the complementary arcuate posts formed in each loop with each other, notwithstanding slight variation in the dimensions of the parts of the two members, or slight irregularity in the assembling of these members.

In the production of parts made of sheet metal and the assembly of standard parts made at different times, there is always likelihood of a slight variation in dimensions, particularly when these parts have to be tumbled and plated or otherwise decorated. There is also likelihood of slight variation in the thickness of the sheet metal used.

In a binder having a considerable number of loops along the length thereof, the complementary parts of which are carried by two strips pivoted at one end, the bringing of the ends of the various complementary posts forming each loop into the desired abutting relation with each other, oifers considerable difficulty from a manufacturing standpoint, and slight variations in the position of the ends of the posts will tend to interfere with the proper closing of the loops. This is particularly true if the loops, adjacent the point of hinged connection between the strips, meet before the ends of the posts toward the opposite end of the strip.

It is possible, however, with a locking mechanism such as that shown in the drawing, to exert suflicient pressure upon the movable member to flex any prematurely engaged arcuate post sufficiently to permit all arcuate posts to have their ends brought into the desired engaging relation, and to hold the parts so as to maintain the posts in this position.

This locking mechanism, in the form of the invention shown, comprises a locking tongue 25 having a rounded end 26 projecting from the free end of the strip member I! adjacent the edge thereof from which the arcuate posts 2| project upwardly and over the strip, this locking tongue having, toward its end, a nub 21 forced upwardly thereof. The locking tongue is offset upwardly in relation to the plane of the strip I'I.

Pivotally mounted upon the base strip I2 is a locking member having a hooked portion 28 The hooked member 28 constitutes one arm of a bell crank lever, the other arm of which has a finger portion '29 turned at right angles to the plane of the hook so as to permit the locking member to be readily actuated by hand. The pivot connecting the locking member with the strip I2 is shown at 30.

The paper sheets to be mounted upon the binder loops must be pierced within the edge of the sheet a distance less than one-half of the width of the base strip I2 in order to permit a proper positioning of turned leaves. To avoid interference with turning of the leaves by the locking mechanism, the point of pivotal connection of the movable locking member upon the strip I2 is preferably at one side of the center line of the strip toward the edge of the strip opposite that from which the posts I4 and tongues l5 project.

By making the movable strip I! shorter than the base strip [2, space is provided for the mounting of the movable member of the looking mechanism upon said base strip.

The operation of the herein described binder is substantially as follows:

The two members I2 and I1 and the locking member 28 to 39 are separately formed and finished by plating or enamelling, and subsequently assembled by means of the pivots I8 and 30. During the production or finishing of said member, there is possibility of slight distortion of some of the arcuate posts or of the tongues I5, any distortion of the latter always being in the nature of forcing one or more of the tongues to a position too close to the strip I2.

The binder, after assembly, is closed, and locked in the closed position and shipped to the bindery in this condition. There is always a possibility that some of the posts or of the tongues may be slightly displaced when riveting or otherwise securing the base member I2 to the back board of a book.

As in all sheet metal work, uniform accuracy of parts is impossible, and a binder embodying the present invention is so formed as to compensate for slight inaccuracies which will never exceed a few thousandths of an inch.

When the binder is to be used, pressure is exerted upon the finger grip 29 to disengage the hooked member 23 from the tongue 25, thus permitting movement of the movable strip I1 about the pivot l8 in a manner to expose the ends of the arcuate posts I4. Leaves of a number to form a book of the desired thickness are then threaded upon the various arcuate posts Hi, each of these leaves being pierced by rectangular openings so spaced as to conform to the spacing of the posts I4. The openings in the leaves have dimensions to permit a free sliding fit between the leaves and the various arcuate posts.

It will be noted that the leaves mounted upon the posts rest upon and are supported by the various tongues I5, thus being spaced from the strip I2 a distance sufficient to permit the insertion of the strip ll of the movable member beneath the tongues without engaging the edge of the lowermost sheet.

By embodying in the binder a considerable number of fairly closely positioned arcuate posts and supporting tongues I5, not only is a support provided for the bound leaves adequate to prevent likelihood of the tearing of the leaves about the posts, but sagging of the leaves between the various tongues in a manner to interfere with a freemovement of the strip I1 in the manner above described, is prevented.

' base member if.

When all the leaves have been mounted upon the posts M, the strip I1 is turned upon its pivot jacent the posts and tongues of said strip. This swinging of the member all will engage the'ends of the complementary arcuate posts [4 and 21, so as to form a substantially continuous loop from edge to edge of the strips 12 and t1;

If the ends of any of the posts toward the pivot l8 meet each other before the ends of other posts meet, it is obvious that further movement of the strip H will be prevented, except as a result of the displacement'of the posts which have thus met prematurely. The nature of the metal stock permits such displacement of the posts.

When the movable member H is thus superimposed upon the strip IZ and between it and the tongues -l 5, the locking tongue 25 is within opera- 'tive range of the hooked arm 25! of the lockin member. i To hold the fixed member and the movable member in proper position in relation to each other under all conditions of use, and complete the closing of the various loops formed by the complementary arcuate posts, the hooked memher is turned about its pivot 3!! by the finger hold 29 until said hooked member passes over and embraces the locking tongue 25. If the ends of all of the posts on the strip I! are not in closely abutting relation to those on the strip 12, the engagement of the hooked member with the rounded end 26 of the tongue 25 will develop a camming action of sufficient strength to flex any arcuate post which is not in the proper position and thus permit the ends of all of the posts to meet.

The final closing movement of the movable member all upon the fixed member 12, whether by pressing the member I! by hand "or by the ramming action of the looking member above referred, will bring the edgeof the strip ll adjacent the rib H5 in close abutting position with the rounded portion it of each of the tongues I 5, and thus Wedge the member 5? tightly against the This rounded portion also lim its the. pivotal movement of "the strip .I'l when closing the binder in the manner described, so as to preclude all possibility of accidental distortion of any of the posts by the development of excess stresses thereon.

By locating the tongue .25 adjacent the edge of theastrip H from which the posts 2i project, and using .a hook 28 embracing this tongue, any tendency toward a slight lifting of the end of the strip adjacent said "tongue is prevented.

It tongue 15 be positioned too close to the strip t2, the engagement of the rib H with that tongue will, by a wedging action, flex it upwardly, so that any displaced tongue, instead of interferring with the'operation of closing the binder, will merely have the effect of more closely holding the strip ll in abutting relation with the strip 12.

The rib 19 projects from the upper surface of the strip l! by only a few thousandths of an inch, and the rest of this strip is such as to have a free sliding fit between the strip [2 and the tongues IS.

The nub 21 :is merely for the purpose of preventing disengagement of the hook 28 and tongue '25 by accidental movement of the hook 23 oitthe locking'member.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details "of construction shown in the accompanying drawing, it being apparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is:

1. A loose leaf binder embodying therein a sheet metal base strip, a plurality of arcuate posts formed integrally with, and projecting upwardly from, one edge of, and part way across, said base strip, a pluraiity of tongues formed integrally with, and projecting from the same edge of said base strip as said posts, said tongues overlaying, being parallel with and being spaced from said base strip, a movable sheet metal strip having a plurality of arcuate posts complementary to the posts upon said base strip and formed integrally with, and projecting upwardly from one edge of, said movable strip, said movable strip being of a thickness to be superimposed upon said base strip and to closely fit the space between same and said tongues, whereby said movable strip will be firmly held in close abutting relation to said base strip, turning movement of said movable strip in one direction is limited, lifting of the arcuate posts upon said movable strip in relation to the arcuate posts upon said base strip is prevented, said tongues are inter posed between said movable strip and the leaves of a book, and both strips eontribue towards the rigidity of the binder, a pivot connecting one end of said strips, and a locking mechanism comprising a tongue carried by one of said strips, and a hooked member pivotally supported upon the other of said strips and engageable with said tongue.

2.'A loose leaf binder embodying therein a sheet metal base strip, a plurality of arcuate .posts formed integrally with, and projecting upwardly'from, one edge of, and part Way across, said base strip, a plurality of tongues formed integrally with, and projecting from the. same edge of said base strip as said posts, said tongues overlaying, being parallel with and being spaced from said base strip, a movable sheet metal strip having a plurality of arcuate posts complementary to the posts upon said base strip and formed integrally with, and projecting upwardly from one edge of, said movable strip, said movable strip being of a thickness to be superimposed upon said base .strip and to closely fit the space between same and said tongues, whereby said movable strip will be firmly held in close abutting relation to said base strip, turning movement of said movable strip in one direction is limited, lifting of the arcuate posts upon said movable strip in relation to :the arcuate posts upon said base strip is prevented, said tongues are interposed between said movable strip and the leaves of a book, and both strips contribute towards the rigidity of the binder, a pivot connecting one end of said strips, and a locking mechanism comprising a tongue projecting from the said base strip, a movable sheet metal strip hav-i ing aplurality of arcuate posts complementary to the posts upon said base strip and formed integrallywith, and projecting upwardly from one edge of, said movable strip, said movable strip being ofa thickness to be superimposed upon said base strip and to closely fit the space between same and said tongues, whereby said movable strip will be firmly held close abutting relation to said base strip, turning movement of said movable strip in one direction is limited, ifting of the arcuate posts upon said movable strip in relation to the arcuate posts upon said base strip is prevented, said tongues are interposed between said movable strip and the leaves of a book, and both strips contribute towards the rigidity of the binder, a pivot connecting one end of said strips, and a locking mechanism comprising a tongue projecting from the end, and upwardly ofiset from the plane, of said movable strip, and a locking member pivotally supported upon the other of said strips having a hooked arm adapted to embrace said tongue, said tongue having a nub adjacent its end whereby accidental disengagement of said book from said tongue is prevented.

4. A loose leaf binder embodying therein a sheet metal base strip, a plurality of arcuate posts formed integrally with, and projecting upwardly from, one edge of, and part way across, said base strip, a plurality of tongues formed integrally with, and projecting from the same edge of said base strip as said posts, said tongues overlaying, being parallel with and being spaced from said base strip, a movable sheet metal strip having a plurality of arcuate posts complementary to the posts upon said base strip and formed integrally with, and projecting upwardly from one edge of, said movable strip, said movable strip being of a thickness to be superimposed upon said base strip and to closely fit the space between same and said tongues, whereby said movable strip will be firmly held in close abutting relation to said base strip, turning movement of said movable strip in one direction is limited, lifting of the arcuate posts upon said movable strip in relation to the arcuate posts upon said base strip is prevented, said tongues are interposed between said movable strip and the leaves of a book, and both strips contribute towards the rigidity of the binder, a pivot connecting one end of said strips, and a locking mechanism comprising a tongue projecting from the end, and upwardly offset from the plane, of said movable strip, and a locking member pivotally supported upon the other of said strips having a a hooked arm adapted to embrace said tongue and a finger piece for actuating said locking member.

with, and projecting upwardly from one edge of,

said movable strip, said movable strip being of a thickness to be superimposed upon said base strip and to closely fit the space between same and said tongues, whereby said movable strip will be firmly held in close abutting relation to said base strip, turning movement of said movable strip in one direction is limited, lifting of the arcuate posts upon said movable strip in relation to the arcuate posts upon said base strip is prevented, said tongues are interposed between said movable strip and the leaves of a book, and both strips contribute towards the rigidity of the binder, a pivot connecting one end of said strips, and a locking mechanism comprising a tongue projecting from the end, and upwardly oifset from the plane, of said movable strip, and a locking member pivotally supported upon the other of said strips having a hooked arm adapted to embrace said tongue and a finger piece positioned in a plane at right angles to the plane of said hooked arm, and at substantially right angles to said hooked arm. 7

6. A loose leaf binder embodying therein a s ieet metal base strip, a plurality of arcuate posts formed integrally with, and projecting upwardly from, one edge of, and part way across, said base strip, a plurality of tongues formed integrally with, and projecting from the same edge of said base strip as said posts, said tongues overlaying, being parallel with and being spaced from said base strip, a movable sheet metal strip having a plurality of arcuate posts complementary to the posts upon said base strip and formed integrally with, and projecting upwardly from one edge of, said movable strip, said movable strip being of a thickness to be superimposed upon said base strip and to closely fit the space between same and said tongues, whereby said movable strip will be firmly held in close abutting relation to said base strip, turning movement of said movable strip in one direction is limited, lifting of the arcuate posts upon said movable strip in relation to the arcuate posts upon said base strip is prevented, said tongues are interposed between said movable strip and the leaves of a book, and both strips contribute towards the rigidity of the binder, a pivot connecting one end of said strips, and a locking mechanism comprising a tongue having a rounded end projecting from the end, and upwardly offset from the plane, of said movable strip, and a locking member pivotally supported upon the other of said strips having a hooked arm adapted to embrace said tongue and by engagement with its rounded end complete the closing movement of said movable strip.

'7. A loose leaf binder embodying therein a sheet metal base strip, a plurality of arcuate posts formed integrally with, and projecting upwardly from, one edge of, and part way across, said base strip, a plurality of tongues formed integrally with, and projecting from the same edge of said base strip as said posts, said tongues overlaying, being parallel with and being spaced from said base strip, a movable sheet metal strip having a plurality of arcuate posts complementary to the posts upon said base strip and formed integrally with, and projecting upwardly from one edge of, said movable strip, said movable strip having a longitudinally extended, upwardly formed rib engageable with the tongues upon said other strip and being of a thickness to be superimposed upon said base strip and to closely fit the space between same and said tongues, whereby said movable strip will be firmly held in close abutting relation to said base strip, turning movement of said movable strip in one direction is limited, lifting of the arcuate posts upon said movable strip in relation to the arcuate posts upon said base strip is prevented, said tongues are interposed between said movable strip and the leaves of a book, and both strips contribute towards the rigidity of the binder, and a pivot connecting one end of said strips.

8. A loose leaf binder embodying therein a sheet metal base strip, a plurality of arcuate posts formed integrally with, and projecting upwardly from, one edge of, and part Way across, said base strip, a plurality of tongues formed integrally with, and projecting from the same edge of said base strip as said posts, said tongues overlaying, being parallel with and being spaced from said base strip, a movable sheet metal strip having a plurality of arcuate posts complementary to the posts upon said base strip and formed integrally with, and projecting upwardly from one edge of, said movable strip, said movable strip having a longitudinally extended, upwardly formed rib engageable with the tongues upon said other strip and being of a thickness to be superimposed upon said base strip and to closely fit the space between same and said tongues, Where by said movable strip will be firmly held in close abutting relation to said base strip, turning movement of said movable strip in one direction is limited, lifting of the arcuate posts upon said movable strip in relation to the arcuate posts upon said base strip is prevented, said tongues are interposed between said movable strip and the leaves of a book, and both strips contribute towards the rigidity of the binder, a pivot connecting one end of said strips, and a locking mechanism comprising a tongue having a rounded end projecting from the end, and upwardly offset from the plane, of said movable strip, and a locking member pivotally supported upon the other of said strips having a hooked arm adapted to embrace said tongue and by engagement with its rounded end complete the closing movement of said movable strip.

ATTO N. HANNA. 

